Shillong, Nov 7: Removal of the registrar and the deputy registrar (Academics) of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) as demanded by agitating students and non-teaching staff is not possible by unilateral decision or personal discretion, said the NEHU vice-chancellor Prof PS Shukla.
“It’s important to note that the termination of a government employee’s service cannot occur without valid and substantial reasons. If there are indeed concerns or reasons for any such action, the process would begin with an inquiry, not an immediate termination,” Prof Shukla told reporters on Wednesday.
“These officials, including the registrar and deputy registrar, were appointed following a thorough screening process and formal interviews. Their roles and continuity in service are governed by due processes, not by arbitrary decisions from any single authority, including the VC,” he added.
Appealing to the students and non-teaching staff to call off their indefinite agitations, the VC made it clear that the government might only consider forming an inquiry committee to examine the demand for their removal, in case of any suspected irregularities in their appointments.
Associations such as NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), NEHU Non-teaching Staff’s
Association (NEHUNSA), and NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) have written to the
government including the president of India seeking removal of these officials.
“If the government suspects any irregularities, it may consider forming an inquiry committee to examine the matter. However, as of now, there has been no communication from the Ministry or the President’s office to the Vice-Chancellor’s office indicating such an action,” the VC said.
Meanwhile, he assured that the process of recruitment to the posts of non-teaching staff, one of the key demands, would start after reopening of the registrar’s office, which is currently closed due to the ongoing protests.
The indefinite strike launched by two student bodies – NEHUSU and Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU unit – and NEHUNSA has paralysed the functioning of the premier central university. They have called for a total lockdown of NEHU in protest against the “failure” of authorities to remove the registrar, deputy registrar (academics), officer on special duty (director, College Development Council) and Guest House in-charge.
The non-teaching staff under NEHUNSA have been on an indefinite cease work for the past three days in protest against “unprecedented delay” in promotion and recruitment to various posts advertised a year ago.
However, NEHUNSA has decided to exempt the examination department from the current tool-down strike in view of the undergraduate exams scheduled from November 11. On the roles of the OSD (Director, College Development Council), Prof Shukla said, “I had approached many professors to consider taking the post. However, no one gave their consent.”
He assured, “I am still willing to appoint any professor who is ready to work as the director of College Development Council and as for guest house in-charge, NEHU currently faces a shortage of non-teaching staff.”
On the delay in recruitment of non-teaching staff, Prof Shukla said following denial from National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct the recruitment exams, NEHU had floated tender for alternative agencies.
“Multiple agencies have shown interest, and once the registrar’s office reopens (currently closed due to protests), these files will move forward,” he said.
He also assured of appointing pro-VCs in both Shillong and Tura campuses of NEHU from local community within December, if there is no response from the Centre in this regard.
“The university has written to the Ministry for further clarification on this matter and is awaiting their response. I will write to the Ministry again and if there is no response within December 2024, I will appoint two Pro-VCs for Shillong and Tura Campuses from the local community only,” he said.
Expressing his willingness to resolve the issues of agitating students and non-teaching staff through discussion, he said, “Come to the table and discuss the matter under the norms, rules and system. I am also bound with the rules and regulations. I am always ready to discuss with my students and also non-teaching staff.”
He also cautioned that continuation of the protests might, at the end, affect the students in their examinations. Following a discussion with NEHUNSA, he assured that he would soon issue a written assurance regarding their demands.
Maintaining that he would not step down as demanded by the agitating groups, he said, “I am not ready to step down. My appointment was made by the president of India. Definitely I will follow whatever the decision that is going to be taken by the president of India.”
